Improvement in boiler gage-cocks



i l l l i l l i UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIGE,

WILLIAM T. HOWARD, -OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF ANDISAAC MGKIM CHASE.

IMPROVEMENT IN BOILER GAGE-COCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 58,546, dated October2, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NTILLIAM T. HOWARD, of the city and county ofBaltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented a new and usefulAdjustable Gage-Cock 3' and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, which are'made a part of this specification,and in which- Figure l is a side elevation of my improved gage-cock.Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 is a plan ofthe same with the adjustable indicator removed.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

This invention relates to the devices which are applied to steam-boilersin order to ascertain the height of wa-ter from time to time and enablethe proper supply to be constantly maintained. This object is generallyaccomplished by providing the boiler with a series of cocks located atdifferent heights, and these cocks have to be tried successively toascertain the water-level.

My improvement consists in an adjustable indicator, consisting of twohollow tubes or legs, one of which extends into a chamber in constantcommunication with the interior of the boiler, while the other extendsdownward at the outside of said chamber, forms a blowoff pipe when incommunication with the iirst tube, and also indicates the height of thewater upon an external graduated face or plate, as will be presentlyexplained.

The following detail description will enable others skilled in the artto which my invention appertains to fully understand and use the same.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents a chamber, made in convenientsections and of any suitable form, and applied to the boiler B byscrews, bolts, or otherwise. The interior of this chamber A communicatesat top and bottom with the interior of the boiler B through the shortpipes C D, and the waterlevel in the chamber A corresponds always withthat in the boiler B.

E E' represent two tubes or hollow legs, which are connected together attop by the tubular coupling F, provided with a try-cock, Gr, having abent handle, G, or a thumbpiece, to enable it to be turned by the hand.

The tube E is fitted to slide within the cap of the chamber A, andextends down into the latter, as shown in Fig. 2.- The tube E is tted toslide within a lug, H, 011 the outside of chamberA; and when the twotubes, together with the hollow coupling F, are raised or lowered, theywill be retained in any position by the elastic collars I I, which areset inside of the cap of chamber A.

The tube E is arranged in front of a graduated surface or plate, J andas its lower end is always coincident with that ot' the inner tube, E,it will indicate on the graduated surface the amount of water within theboiler when the device is properly manipulated to attain this object.

The operation is as follows: If the water in the chamber A and boiler Bhas fallen below the lower extremity of the tube E, the opening of thetry-cock G will permit steam to pass up through the tube E and issue atthe lower end of the tube E. Then, by gradually depressing the tubes E Eand coupling F till the steam ceases to issue, the lower end of the tubeE will indicate on the graduated surface J the exact height of water inthe chamber A and boiler B, for as soon as the steam ceases to issuefrom tube E the lower end of tube E will be slightly submerged in thewater, and the tube E will occupy a corresponding position.

The cock K in the lower end of the chamber A may serve as a trycock, toascertain the original supply before steam is up.

By means of my invention the single trycock G is made to constitute amore accurate gage than a plurality of stationary cocks.

A valve of any suitable construction may be substituted for the cock Gwithout changing the principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as newherein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. The adjustable siphon or tubes E E', employed in combination with thechamberA and try cock or valve G, to indicate the waterlevel in theboiler, substantiallyin the manner specified.

2. The combination of the scale J with the adjustable gage-tubes,substantially as set forth.

WILLIAM T. HOIVARD.

Witnesses:

W. H. HAYWARD, O. REEDER.

